Bristol Stomp Shoes by Charles Jay

 

Charlie Jay Shoes was a fixture here and there on Bridge Street a long time ago and was once located where the Granary’s new expansion is now.

 

This was what rent once was for his store.

45 dollars?

What a deal!

 

John Edwards–Next door to Charlie Jay’s Shoe Repair store at this time was Milady Dress Shop,(Granary location) owned and operated by Eleanor Shane . Widowed in 1940 with three children she was refused social assistance. She eventually went on to sell Raleigh garments for women and earned the capital to set up her store. When my father had brain cancer in 1959 and 1960, I would go to Grandma Shane’s store from Central School (current Post Office) for lunch in order to give my mother some relief.
Every family has these stories of difficulties and endurance. Somehow we only remember the kindness.

Blaine Cornell-I remember Charley well. He used to also sharpen skates in his store. He had a habit of not repairing your shoes until the day you were expecting them to be ready. You would go to the store to get them, then wait while he repaired them. He was a talkitive character who always had few old timers sitting in the store whiling away their time.

Dale Costello-– Dont know how many times I patronized Mr Jays shop. At least hundreds. Quality work and very reasonable. A magician with shoes. Some of my favourite haunts growing up in CP. Chips and shakes- Bellamys, work wear-Okilmans, bakery! Woodstock, best in Canada, candy -Mulvey. Shoe repair-Charlie Jay, dry cleaning- Charlie Godfrey, beer- The Queens hotel, just hanging out- Olympia, pool- until Cecils, produce-Argues, hockey-the arena, shoes- Stanzels, Saturday night parties- Ken Bennett’s, my fingers hurting, please add to the list.

Donna Mcfarlane-–Charlie Jay used to have a general store at Blacks Corners kitty corner from the township offices.(.building was actually destroyed by fire in 1954) I have always felt guilty about owing him five cents..When i was about six a friends father stopped there on way home from sunday school.. Joan got a mcintosh toffee bar and told Charlie to charge it to her dad.. I decided to do the same.. but my dad did not have an account but Charlie gave it to me anyhow and I know he did not tell Dad or I would not have been able to sit down for a week. He had the best ice cream cones there I remember the triple dips for a dime..

Linda Gallipeau-Johnston-– When we went to Central School we used to get old heels from shoes to use in hopscotch tournaments at Charlies for a nickel. Talk about recycling.